Portable building unit



Oct. 31. 1944. s, P, LICHTOR PORTABLE BUILDING UNIT Filed Aug. 27, 1943 Hful Wil

Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a A r 2,861,899

PORTABLE BUILDING UNIT Samuel P. Lichtor, Kansas City, Mo. Application August 27, 1943, Serial No. 500,233 I (01. 20-4) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to portable building units and particularly to movable walls or partitions.

In many structures, as for example in office buildings, it often becomes necessary to move partitions in order toadjust the ofiice spaces to the requirements of new tenants. In other establishments also, it is frequently desirable to vary the size of a room as the occasion demands.

The primary object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of a partition of strong, yet light construction, which may be readily shifted with relation to stationary walls, to vary the size of a room.

A further aim of the invention is to provide carrier mechanism for the partition which in no way detracts from the finished appearance of the room but serves to greatly facilitate shifting of the partition.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a partition and carrier mechanism therefor, embodying means for locking the partition in a selected position.

A yet further object is the provision of means for simultaneously releasing a plurality of looking mechanisms from a single point on the partition.

These and other objects of the invention have been accomplished with structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a condensed elevational view, with portions broken away, of a partition constructed in accordance with this invention and mounted for movement'along the four surrounding walls of a room.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the partition, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, a portion of an upper track being shown in plan.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary horizontal section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on line IV--IV of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a similar fragmentary vertical section taken on line V--V of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on a reduced scale, of one type of joint used for connecting adjoining sections of a partition.

Referring in more detail to the drawing:

The numerals Ill, l2, l4 and I6 respectively designate the floor, ceiling and side walls of a room, which is divided. by a partition l8 mounted for movement along the walls to vary the sizes of the compartments on either side of the partition.

In its preferred form, partition [8 is constructed of a frame covered on opposite sides with panels 22. It is desirable to make partition 20 in at least two sections which meet on a. central vertical line and are joined together in any suitable manner. Fig. 6 illustrates one form 'of joint wherein overlapped portions 24 of adjoining sections are secured together by bolts 26.

In order to make possible the shifting of partition l8, carrier mechanism is provided therefor, including pairs of base members 28, locking strips 30, and upper track members 32. These several members are preferably constructed of metal and are hollow, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Base member 28 and locking strip 30 have cross sectional shapes simulating .the cross sectional forms of conventional base members and base shoes. In like manner, track 32 is formed to resemble finishing strips, commonly known as picture moulding.

The upper edge of base 28 comprising a track and the lower edge of strip 30 are inwardly offset to form a relatively wide recess 34 for the reception of lower rollers 36, riding on member 28 and mounted on shafts 38 extending through the comparatively narrow slot 39, remaining between member 28 and strip 30. Shafts 38 are fixed to lower hangers 40, which in turn are secured by screws or the like 42 to frame 20. Upper'hangers 44, likewise secured to frame 20, carry rollers 46 adapted to travel along the upper edge of track 32. Obviously, members 28, 30 and 32 may be fixed to side walls l4 and I6 by means of screws or otherfastening devices and panels 22 must be notched as indicated at 48 to substantially conform to the contour of said members.

The lower edge of strip 30 and the upper edge or track 32 are respectively providedwith a series of equallyspaced openings 50 and 52, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. A lower locking arm 54 pivotally mounted between bearing bracket 56 on frame 20 has a finger 58 extended through a slot 60 in said frame, through a notch 62 provided'in lower hanger 40, and through slot 39 between base 28 and strip 30. The outer end of finger 58 is directed upwardly and terminates in a pin portion 64 dimensioned to enter the openings 50. An upper locking arm 66, pivoted on bearing brackets 68, includes a finger 69 projecting through a slot 10 in frame 20 and through a notch 12 in hanger 44. A downwardly directed pin 74 on the outer end of finger 69 is adapted to enter the openings 52 in track 32.

Arms 54 and 68 are respectively urged to locking engagement with strip 30 and track member 32 by springs 16 and 18, having their opposite ends anchored to said arms and to frame 20.

Cords or light cables 19 are fastened to ears 80 and 82 of arms 54 and 68 and are preferably run over pulleys, such as 84, to a common point on the partition so that all locking arms can be simultaneously manipulated to withdraw their respective locking pins from the strips 3|] and track members 32 to permit shifting of partition [8. Openings 86 may be cut in panels 20 at convenient locations to provide access to the locking arms. Strips 88 bridging these openings and having threaded apertures 90 are further supplied in order that cover plates 92, of the type commonly employed for covering switch and receptacle boxes, may be secured by screws .94 .to

, the strips 83 for closing openings 85.

The procedure of shifting the partition +8 to obtain a room of desired size will be clear from the foregoing. It is obviously necessary to mainrtain a-slight clearance space between the'perimeter of the partition and the surrounding wall surfaces. This space may he closed by flexible strips fixed to partition 18 along its edges and riding against the adjacent walls. it may be round desirable to continue the use :of members 28, 30 and 13 2 around the entire perimeter of the room and also across ppposite faces of partti-tien L8 withthe result that the partition would more nearly have the resemblance of a perma- .n'ent wall.

Only one rform of the invention has been shown and described, and since it is conceivable that modifications thereof might be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character described, spaced parallel walls provided with horizontal tracks; a movable wall mounted between said spaced walls having notches in its side edges for receiving said tracks; car-riers on the movable wall for riding on said tracks; locking members carried by the movable wall having projections engageable with said tracks; yielding means for urging said locking members into engagement with the tracks; and common means for simultaneously, withdrawing all of said locking members from engagement with said tracks.

'2. In a structure of the character described. spaced parallel walls each having an upper track provided with a series of openings, a lower track and a locking :strip having a series :of openings; movable wall mounted ibetwleen said spaced walls; hangers on the movable wall; rollers on said hangers for riding on the upper ,and lower tracks; and locking members engageabe with the openings in-said upper track and the locking strip respectively :for locking the position of 'the movable wall relative to said spaced walls said movable wall having spaced .apart panels, provided with an access openings therein, said locking members having common operating means extending between the panels to a point adjacent the access opening.

SAMUEL LICHTOR. 

